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Women’s History ‑ Stories

From raising families to leading armies, women such as Catherine the Great, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen Amanirenas, Queen Elizabeth I, Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin and countless others have played a vital role in history.

Detail of the 'bikini girls' mosaic showing girls playing sports, 315-350 A.D.

The History of the Bra: From Corsets to Spandex

While bras shape women’s bodies, the development of bras has been shaped by world events.

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Josephine Garis Cochran as a young woman (left), a patent for Cochran's washing machine invention (right).

Who Invented the Dishwasher?

Josephine Garis Cochran had no formal mechanical engineering education, but she designed, built, marketed and sold her dishwashing machine back in the 1880s.

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Maria Callas, 1969

Why Did Maria Callas Lose Her Voice?

Callas became the most celebrated operatic soprano of the 20th century, but then her career—and life—were cut short.

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Elizabeth "Lizzie" Magie in 1892.

Who Really Invented Monopoly?

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Magie designed her original board game as a critique, not a tribute, to capitalism.

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How Beachwear Helped Pave the Way for Women Wearing Pants

Some of the earliest versions of socially acceptable women’s pants were worn by women vacationing on the beach.

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Belva Lockwood, lawyer, presidential candidate (and bicycle rider).

The Female Lawyer Who Ran for President—Before Women Could Vote

Belva Lockwood not only ran for president—twice—she was also the first female lawyer to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Margaret Abbott

America’s First Female Olympic Champion Never Knew She Was an Olympian

Margaret Abbott spent her life unaware that a golf tournament she won was part of the 1900 Summer Olympics.

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Anna May Wong

Anna May Wong: 13 Facts About Her Trailblazing Hollywood Career

Wong started acting at age 14 and rose to fame, but as a Chinese American, landing leading roles was often a struggle.

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The Wright siblings

The Wright Brothers’ Sister Played a Key Role in Their Success

Katharine Wright helped publicize her brothers’ first‑in‑flight achievement and made sure they made it into the record books.

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Rosalind Franklin

Rosalind Franklin’s Overlooked Role in the Discovery of DNA’s Structure

Franklin’s work paved the way for Watson and Crick’s breakthrough discovery of the DNA double helix.

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Esther Peterson

Esther Peterson: The Woman Behind the Equal Pay Act

Esther Eggertsen Peterson was a driving force behind the Equal Pay Act of 1963, and also pushed for better child care resources.

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Hedy Lamarr

How Hollywood Star Hedy Lamarr Invented the Tech Behind Wi‑Fi

By day, Hedy Lamarr was a glamorous movie star, but she was also a gifted, self‑trained inventor who developed a technology to help sink Nazi U‑boats.

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